TULSA, OKLAHOMA—Two accomplished medical editors with Brief Media (brief.media)—publisher of leading veterinary publication and reference brands—have authored an article featured in a November issue of American Family Physician (AFP; brief.vet/aafp-pet-therapy). AFP is the peer-reviewed human medical journal of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The article, "Pet Therapy: Enhancing Patient Care Through Time with Animals," is part of the American Family Physician Curbside Consultation series, which analyzes clinical cases family physicians may encounter. Mani and Weese presented a clinical case and commentary evaluating whether a patient might benefit from animal-assisted therapy and discussed the evidence, demonstrating that "therapeutic animal companionship can improve patients' well-being" and endorsing "animal-supported therapy as complementary or adjunctive therapy for various clinical conditions."

"We in the veterinary profession heal animals, but we've always been aware of the healing power of animals," Mani says. "A focus on and awareness of potential benefits of animal-assisted therapy and human health can only serve to enhance true collaboration between veterinarians and physicians. Future human/veterinary comparative cases and our current One Health capsules and articles support Brief Media's ongoing efforts to do so. We're honored to participate in this."

Weese—an expert in zoonotic infections, which can be transmitted from animals to humans and/or from humans to animals—also emphasized the role animals can play in supporting human health.

"It is important for those who work in veterinary medicine and those who work in human medicine to understand the connection between the two—not just regarding zoonoses and health risk but also the human–animal bond and the ways animals and humans can enrich one another's lives," Weese says. "For many people, animal-assisted therapy or pet ownership may be enormously beneficial. I'm pleased that the American Family Physician article will reach physicians with that message."